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bbc.com
Rural households feel the pinch of war in Iran
North Yorkshire residents using oil tanks to fuel their homes say bills are soaring.
cnbc.com
Hims & Hers shares surge 50% after Novo Nordisk drops patent infringement case over compounded weight loss drugs
Novo dropped its patent-infringement case against telehealth provider Hims & Hers after the companies agreed that Hims would sell Novo's branded medicines.
bbc.com
Six ways the Iran war could affect you - in charts
With fuel and gas prices having risen in recent days, here are some ways the conflict could affect households.
theguardian.com
Stock markets plunge after oil surges over $100 a barrel, wiping out hopes of UK interest rate cut – business live
Shares slide and government bond yields jump, as oil price jump to four-year high threatens new inflationary spikeIran war drives oil prices above $100 a barrel for first time since 2022UK interest rate cuts unlikely this year amid Iran war – and a rise could be aheadResearch show that poorer people are hit hardest by surging oil prices.As our economics editor Heather Stewart wrote yesterday:Recent research published by economists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst identified energy, along with food and agriculture as among the commodities that had “a disproportionate capacity to increase inequality when their prices rise”.Where there are benefits, these are narrowly shared. Another striking recent paper showed that after the 2022 oil price surge in the US, 50% of the windfall benefit from higher prices in the sector went to the wealthiest 1% of individuals, via the stock market. The bottom 50% of people received only 1%. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
I've studied over 200 kids—parents who raise emotionally intelligent kids regularly ask their children 9 questions
Raising emotionally intelligent kids starts with everyday conversations at home, says child psychologist Reem Raouda, who has studied over 200 kids. Here are some questions parents can use to get started.
theguardian.com
Travelers face long waits at some US airports amid DHS shutdown
Wait times at security checkpoints in Houston and New Orleans as long as three hours due to shortage of TSA agentsTravelers complained of long waits Sunday – lasting hours in some cases – at security checkpoints at airports in Houston and New Orleans, which officials blamed on a government shutdown of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).The estimated wait time at the standard security checkpoint at the William P Hobby airport in Houston early Sunday evening was at one point three hours, according to the Houston Airports website. The Hobby airport on social media Friday said it expected more travelers than normal due to spring break. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
European markets slide on Middle East turmoil as oil price surges
European stocks started the new trading week sharply lower as traders tracked developments in the Middle East and a surge in oil prices.
cnbc.com
Congressional Democrats demand reversal of Russian oil sales into India as energy prices soar
Russia is reportedly helping Iran target U.S. forces in the Middle East, and could now benefit from a windfall of new oil and gas sales.
cnbc.com
Nvidia backs AI data center startup Nscale as it hits $14.6 billion valuation
Nscale has become a key player in the AI infrastructure buildout
cnbc.com
Treasury yields climb higher as investors monitor Iran war and soaring oil price
U.S. Treasury yields climbed higher on Monday as oil prices soared past $100 a barrel and increased inflation fears among investors.
theguardian.com
Small business owners doubt they’ll see refunds after supreme court invalidates Trump’s tariffs
Ruling could free $175bn, but legal hurdles and higher costs have left businesses questioning if claims are even worth itThe US supreme court recently struck down Donald Trump’s tariffs, opening the door to up to $175bn in refunds for businesses that paid the import taxes. However, the process for claiming that money is by no means certain. Trump himself said that the issue could be tied up in courts “for the next five years”.Across the country, small businesses have struggled to navigate the fallout from Trump’s global tariff wars. The Guardian asked small business owners in the US how their lives and livelihoods have been affected. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Council considers extending food voucher scheme
The council earmarks £1m to pay for the vouchers as part of a new Crisis and Resilience Fund.
theguardian.com
Nigel Farage invests £215,000 in Kwasi Kwarteng’s bitcoin firm
Reform UK leader strengthens ties with crypto sector with stake in former Tory chancellor’s company Stack BTCBusiness live – latest updatesNigel Farage has invested in Kwasi Kwarteng’s bitcoin reserves company, as the leader of Reform UK aligns himself closer with the cryptocurrency industry.The MP has invested £215,000 in Stack BTC, the crypto business that is chaired by the former Conservative chancellor. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Glasgow Central station to stay closed for at least two days after fire and building collapse
Blaze, believed to have started in vape shop, gutted building next to station and destroyed shops, salon and cafeGlasgow Central is to remain closed for at least two days after a building next door to Scotland’s busiest railway station collapsed during a large fire.National Rail said the station would be closed on Monday and was likely to remain closed on Tuesday after the fire, believed to have started in a vape shop in Union Street on Sunday afternoon. Continue reading...
bbc.com
How high could UK petrol and diesel prices go?
For every $10 rise in oil prices, motorists face paying roughly 7p per litre more in the UK.
theguardian.com
UK interest rate cuts unlikely this year amid Iran war – and a rise could be ahead
Markets predict Bank of England will hold rates in 2026 as bond yields soar on forecasts of prolonged conflictIran war drives oil prices above $100 a barrelBusiness live – latest updatesUK interest rates are not expected to be cut this year and could even rise next summer, according to financial markets, in a dramatic reversal of forecasts before the US-Israel war on Iran.Markets data on Monday showed that investors predict the Bank of England will most likely keep its base rate on hold at 3.75% for the remainder of the year, and would raise them to 4% next June. Continue reading...
bbc.com
G7 nations to hold emergency meeting on oil as stock markets sink
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will join talks amid reports that oil reserves could be released to lower prices.
cnbc.com
Oil shock prompts South Korea to impose fuel price cap for the first time in 30 years
Lee Jae Myung would "swiftly introduce" a fuel price cap, adding that Seoul will explore ways to diversify its energy import sources
theguardian.com
How AI firm Anthropic wound up in the Pentagon’s crosshairs
Standoff with DoD over Claude chatbot reignites debate over how AI will be used in war – and who will be held accountableUntil recently, Anthropic was one of the quieter names in the artificial intelligence boom. Despite being valued at about $350bn, it rarely generated the flashy headlines or public backlash associated with Sam Altman’s OpenAI or Elon Musk’s xAI. Its CEO and co-founder Dario Amodei was an industry fixture but hardly a household name outside of Silicon Valley, and its chatbot Claude lagged in popularity behind ChatGPT.That perception has shifted as Anthropic has become the central actor in a high-profile fight with the Department of Defense over the company’s refusal to allow Claude to be used for domestic mass surveillance and autonomous weapons systems that can kill people without human input. Amid tense negotiations, the AI firm rejected a Pentagon deadline for a deal last week, in a move that led Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary, to accuse Anthropic of “arrogance and betrayal” of its home country while demanding that any companies that work with the US government cease all business with the AI firm. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Top US banks weigh suing federal regulator over crypto banking rules
Exclusive: Bank Policy Institute, representing lenders such as JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs, argues that new licenses could harm US consumers and financial systemSome of the largest US banks are considering suing their financial regulator, arguing that a new raft of licenses for crypto, payment and fintech could put American consumers and the wider financial system at risk.The Bank Policy Institute (BPI), which represents 40 of the biggest US lenders including JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, is understood to be weighing its legal options after the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) failed to heed repeated warnings from influential banking groups and state regulators over its reinterpretation of federal licensing rules. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
One year after Trump’s sovereignty threats, Canadians keep ‘elbows up’
An unusual swell of Canadian patriotism seen after Trump's threats and tariffs last year has evolved into a new social and economic order.
cnbc.com
‘Sky is the limit’: Analysts warn oil prices could surge further
Energy analysts warned that there was no limit for oil prices as they rose in response to the war in the Middle East.
cnbc.com
Iran's strategic oil island thrust into the spotlight as Middle East conflict escalates
Kharg Island serves as the centerpiece for Iran's oil industry, accounting for roughly 90% of the country’s crude exports.
cnbc.com
U.S. orders staff to leave Saudi Arabia as war spreads; Iran rules out immediate ceasefire
The U.S. ordered non-emergency government staff to leave Saudi Arabia as the widening Iran war rattled global markets.
theguardian.com
Yorkshire Water receives fresh funding despite sewage fines and pay row
Private equity group EQT to take 42% stake as supplier faces scrutiny over environmental record and CEO’s payBusiness live – latest updatesA leading European investor will pump fresh funding into Yorkshire Water including helping to cover a £600m loan, despite recent heavy sewage fines and a scandal over executive pay at the utility firm.EQT, a Swedish private equity group, said on Monday it would take a 42% stake in Kelda Holdings, the Jersey-registered parent company of Yorkshire Water, which has 5.7 million customers across Yorkshire and parts of the East Midlands and Lincolnshire. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Asia governments to cap fuel prices as oil costs jump
The price of crude has surged above $100 on concerns about shortages due to supply disruptions.
cnbc.com
Why China can withstand oil's surge past $100 more easily than other countries
The latest Middle East tensions sheds light on how the world's three largest oil consumers have taken different approaches to energy, with global consequences.
cnbc.com
China consumer inflation hits three-year high as producer deflation eases
China's consumer inflation recorded the biggest jump in more than three years, as an extended holiday bolstered spending.
cnbc.com
Asia markets moderate losses after reported Saudi oil release slightly ease prices
Markets cut losses later in the session as a reported release of Saudi Arabian crude on the market eased oil prices.
bbc.com
Iran war impacts heating oil bills for homeowners
Some residents say they have seen prices more than double since the conflict started.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Oil storms past $100 for first time since 2022
Shortly after the surge, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that "short term oil prices" are "a very small price to pay."
theguardian.com
How the ‘Galápagos of west Africa’ is plundered by floating fish factories
A Guardian investigation with DeSmog reveals thousands of tonnes of fish are illegally turned into fishmeal and oil off the coast of Guinea-BissauThe only ice factory on Bubaque, an island in west Africa’s Guinea-Bissau, is out of service. Local fishers, such as Pedro Luis Pereira, are forced to source ice from factories on the mainland, about 70km away – a six-hour round trip by boat.“The machines have been broken for months,” Pereira says, as he pulls in his nets on the shore of the island inside the protected Bijagós archipelago. “We’ve alerted the ministry of fisheries, but so far, no one has come to fix them.”Foreign industrial vessels anchored near the port of Bissau. Photograph: Davide Mancini Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Travelodge turned away vulnerable women late at night
They were far from home but it refused to let them stay without specific ID to prove they were over 18My disabled 22-year-old daughter and her 20-year-old sister were turned away late at night by Travelodge Cambridge Orchard Park because staff would not accept that they were over 18. Their rail and student cards showing their dates of birth were not accepted.I called the hotel and offered to scan their passports but this was refused as well. The customer service helpline was similarly unhelpful. By then it was nearly 10pm and they had nowhere else to go. The 22-year-old is autistic and when she goes anywhere we always have to have her itinerary pre-planned and someone to be with her. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Why has the Iran war sparked fears of stagflation for the global economy?
With oil prices soaring and stock markets falling, economists warn that a prolonged conflict in the Middle East risks knocking growth worldwide and boosting pricesMiddle East crisis - live updatesOil prices continued to surge on Monday, triggering a stark sell-off across some of the world’s leading stock markets amid growing concern that the US-Israel war on Iran could set the stage for a global economic shock.The Middle East conflict has sparked an energy supply crisis that could risk driving up inflation and interest rates, according to economists, who believe growth is set to weaken while prices rise. Fears of stagflation – where economic activity stagnates, but inflation increases – loom large. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Global week ahead: Diplomacy in ruins as G7 meets on Iran
G7 finance ministers and central bank governors are set to convene for a key meeting as diplomatic tensions escalate over the Iran conflict.
theguardian.com
Average UK office attendance ‘settling’ at highest level since before Covid
Figure above 40% every week since early January as report says situation ‘no longer in freefall nor in recovery’Workers are heading back to offices across the UK in droves, pushing office occupancy to the highest since before the Covid-19 pandemic, as an expert described the numbers as “no longer in freefall nor in recovery mode but settling”.Investment banks such as Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chasehave led the push with strict return-to-office mandates despite anger among many employees about being ordered back to the office five days a week. Companies in other sectors have also increased days in the office but many businesses, including law and accounting firms, still allow staff to work remotely two days a week. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Spain's migrants welcome amnesty: 'It will help us in every way'
Madrid cites humanitarian and economic reasons to give undocumented workers legal status.
theguardian.com
Britain’s job market ‘floundering’ as companies remain cautious about hiring
Data shows labour market is still in a fragile position due to economic uncertainty, with few signs of recoveryBritain’s jobs market is “floundering” amid weak hiring demand, with only limited signs of recovery, data has revealed.Companies remain cautious about hiring staff amid cost pressures and economic uncertainty, according to two reports released on Monday. They show the labour market continues to be in a fragile position. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Iran names Ayatollah Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, as new supreme leader: Media reports
Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates report more strikes on civilian targets as U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran continue.
theguardian.com
Former Tory minister Zac Goldsmith to launch new sports radio station
Exclusive: Goldsmith and brother Ben the major investors in trkradio, which is due to go to air next monthThe former Conservative minister Zac Goldsmith is launching a new sports radio station, trkradio, in the run-up to the men’s football World Cup this summer.The Track Radio Corporation is understood to have been granted a licence by Ofcom last week, with Goldsmith and his brother Ben, a financier and environmentalist, the major investors. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on EV charging: China took the right lessons from Britain’s past | Editorial
Megawatt fast EV charging reflects a coordinated grid strategy the UK once used. Privatisation and fragmentation now make that infrastructure far harder to buildThe future of electric cars arrived this week in China. The world’s biggest car seller, BYD, unveiled a new battery giving its latest electric models more than 600 miles of range. Remarkably, the Chinese motor-maker said 250 miles of range could be injected into its new batteries in just five minutes. If true, the last remaining advantages of petrol cars – long range and quick refuelling – are beginning to disappear.But such technology requires megawatt charging points. A single charger can draw as much power as a small town in Britain. BYD’s system relies on chargers delivering around 1.5 megawatts of electricity – more than four times the fastest chargers in the UK. China is moving fast, planning thousands of megawatt charging stations within two years.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
John Lewis to give update as staff hope for first annual bonus since 2022
JLP, which runs department store chain and Waitrose, to report its results for year to January on ThursdayWorkers at the John Lewis Partnership are expected to find out this week whether they will receive their first annual bonus payment in four years.The retail group, which runs the John Lewis department store chain and Waitrose supermarket business, will also reveal how it has been progressing with its transformation strategy in an update on Thursday 12 March. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘People are thinking twice’: Cyprus feels the effect of the Iran war on tourism
No country in Europe is likely to be affected more than Cyprus, the nearest EU member to the Middle EastThe season has barely begun but Ayia Napa is beginning to feel the pulse. Tourists are trickling back, enjoying the Cypriot resort’s sunsets, eateries and shoreline views.On the seafront, Vassilis Georgiou is busy overseeing the construction of a new ramp for the jetskis that are a highlight of his water sports business. Last year, more than 500,000 holidaymakers visited the beachside booth, snapping up tickets for the boat cruises and parasailing also on offer. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK must be prepared for a price shock from the Iran war | Heather Stewart
Governments are having to wake up to the fact they will have to take a closer interest in supply chains for essentialsOil prices ‘could breach $100 a barrel within days’ amid supply disruption from Iran warDonald Trump’s assault on Iran and the deadly conflict it has unleashed is grim and unprecedented – but there is a familiarity to its economic consequences: brace yourself for another price shock.From the Covid shutdown and subsequent reopening to Russian tanks rolling into Ukraine, the global economy has been rocked by one cost surge after another. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Current and former Block workers say AI can’t do their jobs after Jack Dorsey’s mass layoffs: ‘You can’t really AI that’
The CEO said he cut the company’s workforce by 4,000 people – almost in half – because of gains in AI productivityMark remembers the first time he wondered whether he was teaching Block’s AI tools how to do his job – and maybe even replace him. He was at his fintech company’s extravagant anniversary party last September. As executives led a presentation on the productivity benefits of a new internal AI tool, Mark, who worked in the product department, discussed his worries with colleagues. While he wasn’t sure what would happen in a few years, he told a co-worker sitting next to him that for now, there was no way the technology was so advanced that it could move the business forward without employees like him to help drive vision and strategy.These AI tools were not proactive. He had to tell them what to do. Block still needed him, he thought. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
White House worries as gas prices jump amid ongoing US-Israel war on Iran
US drivers are largely insulated from higher oil prices caused by Middle East turmoil – but only to a pointAcross the US, the average cost of a gallon of regular gasoline has jumped nearly 27 cents in a week, to $3.25, and American consumers are bracing for higher prices at the gas pump as the US-Israel conflict with Iran threatens to disrupt the global oil supply.That fear has entered the White House too, where Donald Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, is reportedly hunting for ideas to lower gasoline prices and officials are getting “screamed at” to bring good news, according to Politico. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Tehran oil sites on fire as Iran exchanges strikes with Israel and US – video report
A huge column of fire and smoke could be seen rising from an oil depot in the Iranian capital in video shared on social media.Footage from central Tehran shows fires across the skyline as the US and Israel hit five oil facilities in overnight strikes in and near the city, an official told state TV.A fresh wave of Iranian strikes hit the Gulf on Sunday, with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait all reporting attacksMiddle East crisis: latest updates Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Americans aren't facing a democratic collapse. We’re living in its aftermath | Eric Reinhart
The US was an oligarchy well before Trump’s first term. Recognizing this reality is essential to building a true democracySince Donald Trump returned to the White House, American political life has taken on a familiar rhythm. Each week brings another court ruling framed as a breaking point, another election cast as the last real one, another executive order described as the moment it all finally tips over the edge, another person murdered by a government that’s finally gone too far. Democratic party fundraising emails promise to “save the Republic”. Commentators warn that the guardrails are giving way. Anxious citizens refresh their screens, waiting for the collapse of American democracy.This state of permanent panic rests on what Sigmund Freud called an illusion: a belief embraced not because it reflects reality, but because it satisfies a psychological need. The illusion in this case is that the United States still has a democracy to lose. The more unsettling truth is that Americans are not living under threat of future democratic breakdown; we are living inside the aftermath of one that has already occurred.Eric Reinhart is a political anthropologist, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Tech oligarchs reshape humanity while billionaires of old seem quaint
From Gates to Musk and Altman, today’s ultra-rich steer AI and tech, raising questions about who decides the futureWhen Bill Gates became the first modern IT mogul to reach the apex of wealth and power in 1992, the world was a very different place. Gates joined the top 10 on Forbes magazine’s billionaires list alongside Japanese, German, Canadian, South Korean and Swedish billionaires, including those with family fortunes from Britain and America. A broad mix of industries was on the list: Retail and media, property management and packaging, an investment firm and a couple of industrial conglomerates. Their fortunes almost added up to $100bn – equivalent to about 0.4% of the US’s GDP that year.The oligarchy has changed drastically since then. Bernard Arnault, of French luxury group LVMH, Amancio Ortega, the Spanish clothing mogul, and Warren Buffett, the US investor, were the only old-school billionaires among the top 10 in 2025. The rest largely made their money from high-tech: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Ellison, Steve Ballmer and Google’s Sergey Brin and Larry Page. The top 10 amassed over $16trn, which is about 8% of US GDP. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Is Glasgow losing the spaces that made it an arts powerhouse?
The closing of a cluster of leading creative venues has led to dismay and intensified fears the hubs that fostered Glasgow’s celebrated arts scene are disappearingBy the time Daisy Mulholland arrived, the locks had already been changed. The Glaswegian artist, had been organising the launch event for her new art shop at the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) when she got an email telling her the Sauchiehall Street venue – and cornerstone of the city’s art scene since it was founded as the Third Eye Centre in 1974 – was closing with immediate effect.“The event was the following day: we had 250 tickets sold, we’d done so many rehearsals, and inside there were lighting rigs, performers’ equipment, shop stock. It was truly heartbreaking,” she says. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
AI chatbots point vulnerable social media users to illegal online casinos, analysis shows
Tech firms condemned for lack of controls with Meta AI and Gemini even offering advice on how to bypass UK gambling and addiction checksAI chatbots are recommending illegal online casinos to vulnerable social media users, putting them at increased risk of fraud, addiction and even suicide.Analysis of five AI products, owned by some of the world’s largest tech companies, found that all could easily be prompted to list the “best” unlicensed casinos and offer tips on how to use them. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Caffè Nero says growth is ‘steady’ but coffee prices are likely to rise
Founder of family-owned firm says it will pause acquisitions after takeover of 15 Compass Coffee stores in USCaffè Nero will continue opening new shops in the UK and overseas, but has warned coffee prices are likely to keep rising as the war in Iran and higher staffing costs feed through.The family-owned business, which has just bought the 15-store Compass Coffee based in Washington DC to convert to its main brand, is aiming to open as many as 30 UK stores and between 50 and 70 more this year across the 10 other countries it operates in. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
China says 'thorough preparations' needed as Trump-Xi meeting hangs in the balance amid Iran war
China's top diplomat Wang Yi signaled preparations are underway for a planned meeting between the presidents of the U.S. and China.
theguardian.com
Life on Kenya’s largest dump: the invisible workers sorting the world’s rubbish
Plastic, textiles, e-waste and more end up at the vast Dandora site, where waste pickers spend all hours sifting through toxic debris looking for recyclablesOn my journey documenting environmental stories in Kenya, I attended the Africa Climate Summit in 2023. It ignited a deeper exploration into the lives of waste pickers, revealing a glaring omission in global recycling narratives: the invisibility of these essential workers.Living and working in Nairobi, I immersed myself in Dandora, the largest dump in Kenya, spanning more than 12 hectares (30 acres) near the Nairobi River and receiving an estimated 2,000 tonnes of industrial and domestic waste daily. For months I witnessed first-hand how waste is devastating local ecosystems and human lives. Kenya’s waste streams are now overwhelmed by single-use plastics from companies shifting the burden on to informal workers.Pre-sorting has reduced the amount of recylables in the waste brought by truck to Dandora Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The £49 ‘driller killer’: steps to avoid locksmith scams
Rogue operators draw in customers by advertising low prices, but when the work is done they invoice 10 times that sumLate on a Sunday night, you put your key into the front door and it snaps when you turn it. Unable to get in, you search online for an emergency locksmith and find one advertising a willingness to do the job for £69. You call it out.When the locksmith arrives, they ask no questions, drills through the lock within minutes and replaces the fixture. You are then given a bill for more than £700 with an invoice detailing a breakdown of the costs – all in excess of the original quote. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Why holiday meal money for cash-strapped parents is back on the menu
The school holiday food grant was axed by the Department of Education in 2023 due to a lack of money.
theguardian.com
Did baby boomers eat all the pies? John Lanchester on the truth about the generation gap
It’s a grim time to be in your 20s, no doubt, but don’t blame it all on older people: being chopped up into ever smaller rivalries only serves the marketIntergenerational relations, or lack of them, is a subject I’ve been thinking about, on and off, since the financial crisis. I’ve read up on it, too – things such as the Institute for Fiscal Studies’ report on intergenerational earnings mobility, which is wonky but full of fascinating information which needs some parsing. (Example: “While the educational attainment of ethnic minorities growing up in families eligible for free school meals is often higher than that of their white majority peers, their earnings outcomes show no such advantage.” Why not?) Another good source of data is the Office for Budgetary Responsibility’s (OBR) report on intergenerational fairness – which, interestingly, is about the bluntest statement of fiscal unfairness that you can find. The OBR makes the point that “a current new-born baby would make an average net discounted contribution to the exchequer of £68,400 over its life-time, whilst future generations would have to contribute £159,700”. In plain English, people’s lifetime contribution to the state is going to double. That number is from 2011, and will definitely have got worse. In 2019, the House of Lords published a report on “Tackling intergenerational unfairness”, which doesn’t even bother pretending that the problem doesn’t exist. Mind you, not everyone agrees. A 2023 report from Imperial College Business School argues “there is more solidarity between generations than the ‘Millennials versus Boomers’ narrative would suggest”.So this is definitely a question you can address through data – though there is a risk that you can use numbers to cherrypick your way to a conclusion you already held in advance. The other way of thinking about it is through lived experience. Not necessarily just your own. I often find myself thinking about the range of experiences and expectations in my own family, going no further than one generation back and one generation forward. I’m on the cusp between boomers and generation X. My children, both in their 20s, are firmly in generation Z. My parents were born in the 20s, in the west of Ireland and in South Africa. Between us, it’s a wildly different set of life stories, and chucking it into the capacious carpet bag labelled “generational differences” seems to me to be a violent oversimplification. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Trump shouldn’t ease Russia sanctions – they are choking its economy | Phillip Inman
As the US waives its ban on India buying Putin’s oil for 30 days, Europe must bolster its own measures, such as stopping the flow of luxury carsDonald Trump handed Vladimir Putin a financial lifeline last week when he waived a ban on India buying Russian oil for 30 days.Trump found himself in a furious row last year with Narendra Modi over his country’s oil deals with Moscow, only for fences to be partly mended when India’s biggest importer later capitulated. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump admin announces $20 billion reinsurance program for oil tankers during Iran war
Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains at a standstill as the Iran war engulfs the region.
theguardian.com
What does the US military’s feud with Anthropic mean for AI used in war?
Tech policy professor who served in US air force explains how a feud between an AI startup and the US military illuminates ethical fault linesAnthropic’s ongoing fight with the Department of Defense over what safety restrictions it can put on its artificial intelligence models has captivated the tech industry, acting as a test of how AI may be used in war and the government’s power to coerce companies to meet its demands.The negotiations have revolved around Anthropic’s refusal to allow the federal government to use its Claude AI for domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weapons systems, but the dispute also reflects the messy nature of what happens when tech companies have their products integrated into conflict. The Pentagon this week declared Anthropic a supply chain risk for its refusal to agree to the government’s terms, while Anthropic has vowed to challenge the designation in court. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Iran's internet blackout extends into second week: NetBlocks
Iran's government cut internet connectivity shortly after start of U.S.-Israeli attacks on Feb. 28.
cnbc.com
Zealand's stock plummets after disappointing drug result. Its CEO tells CNBC people need to focus less on the 'weight loss Olympics'
Zealand and Roche are jointly developing the drug petrelintide which in a mid-stage study led to a worse-than-expected 10.7% weight-loss over 42 weeks.
theguardian.com
Airline groundings expose depth of world travel’s reliance on Gulf corridor
Restart of operations will be a relief to those stranded but may not dispel doubts raised by past week about key transit hubMiddle East crisis – follow liveAfter nearly a week of uncertainty, airspace closures and very limited flights, news that hundreds of thousands of passengers around the world were hanging on for emerged: the Gulf-based carrier Emirates was restarting operations in earnest despite the US-Israel war on Iran.Those relieved by the restart will include the UK’s Foreign Office, after its travails in organising delayed rescue flights out of neighbouring Oman. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Mainly, you fast fooded’: Monzo under fire over ‘shaming’ year-end reviews
Bank criticised for tone of spending summaries, with one user complaining to ombudsman over ‘humiliating’ use of dataWhen does lighthearted banter become inappropriate and humiliating?The digital bank Monzo has been accused of overstepping the mark by using the data it holds to tell one customer with a past eating disorder that she eats a lot of fast food, spends “more than most” on Just Eat takeaways, and had banished her life goals thanks to her spending choices. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Revealed: the new affordable commuter hotspots in Great Britain
The lowdown on journey times, season ticket costs and average house prices in places you should know aboutIn pictures: homes for sale in new commuter hotspots in EnglandThe commuter belt is being redrawn. During Covid, in the hope that remote working would stick, buyers broke free from conventions and transformed the housing map. A race for space – and to the coast and rural areas – were the stories of the pandemic.As the call back to the office intensified, this trend unwound and homebuyers began targeting the more traditional commuter zones once again. Unfortunately, the homebuying landscape is very different to five years ago and some of those locations are unaffordable. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Emirates resumes some Dubai flights – what's the latest on travel to UK?
New flights to the UK from the Middle East follow days of widespread air travel disruption which had left Britons stranded.
bbc.com
There’s an inflation wave coming - what does the Iran war mean for the UK economy?
Economic consequences are an intrinsic aspect of the Iran conflict, writes BBC economics editor Faisal Islam.
cnbc.com
Amazon says Anthropic’s Claude still OK for AWS customers to use outside defense work
Amazon joined Microsoft and Google in continue to offer Anthropic's Claude AI technology to customers after the Pentagon deemed it a "supply chain risk."
bbc.com
Oil price at two-year high after Qatar warns all Gulf production could stop within days
Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi says oil could hit $150 a barrel if the Iran conflict continues over the coming weeks.
theguardian.com
Investors are expecting Donald Trump to back down in the war with Iran – but what if he doesn’t?
Global markets have become inured to the US president’s posturing over the past year, but economists warn they may be ‘a little bit complacent’ in anticipating a short conflict in the Middle EastInvestors over the past year have learned that Donald Trump has a boundless capacity to quickly reverse course in the face of acute political or market pressures.But a week since the United States and Israel launched missile strikes on Iran, there are fears the war could morph into a protracted conflict.Patrick Commins is Guardian Australia’s economics editor Continue reading...
bbc.com
Mayor Sadiq Khan invites embattled AI firm Anthropic to expand in London
The letter from London's mayor came as the US moved to designate the company a supply chain risk.
cnbc.com
Oil surges 35% this week for biggest gain in futures trading history dating back to 1983
The oil market is worried that Gulf countries will have to shut production if tankers are unable to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
bbc.com
Flight paths squeezed as Iran conflict closes more airspace
A drone attack on Azerbaijan has narrowed choices for airlines scrambling to respond to disruption in the Gulf.
bbc.com
Axel Springer agrees to buy Telegraph Media Group in £575m deal
Last year the Daily Mail and General Trust proposed to buy the company in a £500m takeover.
theguardian.com
German twist in the Telegraph tale shatters Lord Rothermere’s dreams
The European media giant Axel Springer has scuppered the Daily Mail owner. But why did it not bid sooner? And what will Brexit-backing readers think?After three years, a series of failed bids stretching from the US to Abu Dhabi, internal rebellions and even changes in the law, it should be no surprise that the tortured sale of the Telegraph has delivered another spectacular twist with a blockbuster offer from the media giant Axel Springer.It has torpedoed the long-held dreams of the Daily Mail proprietor, Lord Rothermere, to secure the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph and begin the next chapter of his family’s love affair with the British press. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Surge in jet fuel prices could push up air fares, analysts warn
Disruption to supplies from the Gulf due to the Middle East conflict has pushed the cost up by more than 80%.
bbc.com
US economy unexpectedly sheds 92,000 jobs in February
The contraction came as a surprise with payrolls down in nearly every sector.
bbc.com
Price of first class stamps to rise to £1.80
Royal Mail says the increase reflects the rise in delivery costs, but the move angers consumer groups.
cnbc.com
Trump wants U.S. Navy to escort tankers through the Gulf. Why that plan may not work
A backup of oil tankers in the Persian Gulf is disrupting supplies, and will only get worse the longer the Strait of Hormuz is closed.
bbc.com
Lenders lift mortgage rates as Iran war hits borrowing costs
Nationwide, HSBC and Coventry Building Society are all putting some mortgage rates up.
bbc.com
Heating oil costs 'worrying' for rural residents
The price of heating oil has risen amid the Middle East conflict, hitting many in rural areas.
bbc.com
US eases sanctions on Russian oil sales to India during Iran conflict
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent gives India a 30-day waiver to buy Russian crude as a "stop gap measure".
cnbc.com
China dials down growth ambitions with decades-low target. Here's why
China has set its lowest growth target in decades, acknowledging domestic challenges and pointing to global uncertainty.
bbc.com
Anthropic vows to sue Pentagon over supply chain risk label
The supply chain risk designation of the artificial intelligence firm is a first for a US company.
cnbc.com
Why the world's top-performing stock market in 2025 is seeing historic volatility
South Korea's stock market has swung wildly in recent days, underscoring how the world's best-performing equities market last year can also be among its most volatile.
bbc.com
Can snacks help you sleep?
Chocolates, bars, gummies and drinks promise to help you sleep, but is the science behind them sound?
bbc.com
One in 7 shops in UK has turned cashless in the past year, survey finds
Some 14% of small High Street traders have gone card only in the last year, a survey suggests.
bbc.com
TfL hack in 2024 affected around 10 million people, BBC can reveal
TfL insists it has "kept customers informed throughout this incident and will continue to take all necessary action".
cnbc.com
Western automakers outsourced supply chains for decades — now Chinese rivals have the cost edge
A recent Rhodium Group report found that structural factors outweigh the effects of state subsidies on the profit margins of Chinese electric vehicle companies.
cnbc.com
States led by New York sue to block Trump's latest tariffs, calling them an illegal end run around Supreme Court
The move from the state AGs — part of the successful effort to block Trump's original tariffs — adds to the ongoing uncertainty created by his tariff policies.
bbc.com
States sue Trump administration over new 'unlawful' global tariffs
The 24 states are seeking to block Trump's latest tariffs, which he imposed to replace levies struck down by the Supreme Court.
bbc.com
UK firms pull fixed energy deals as Iran war pushes up prices
Data suggests the number of fixed-term deals has more than halved as prices for wholesale energy surge.
theguardian.com
Donald Trump insists there are no wind farms in China. Here are 20 of them – in pictures
The US president has made the easily debunked claim that there are no wind farms in China Continue reading...
bbc.com
South East Water faces £22m fine for supply failures
The firm was unable to cope during high demand, Ofwat says, leading to "immense stress" for customers.
theguardian.com
Will China own the green energy future? – podcast
The conflict in the Middle East has sent energy prices soaring, and for countries that import a high proportion of their fuel, it’s a reminder of the perils of energy dependence. As the recipient of almost 90% of Iran’s crude oil, China knows this only too well. Which partly explains why the country spent the last decade heavily investing in clean power.To find out what else could be driving the strategy, Madeleine Finlay speaks to senior China correspondent Amy Hawkins. And energy correspondent Jillian Ambrose reflects on how China’s ambitions could affect the rest of the worldSupport the Guardian: theguardian.com/sciencepod Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Inside India newsletter: Energy, airlines and now over $50 billion in remittances to India at risk as Middle East conflict deepens
India can't seem to escape from the fallout of the escalating conflict in the Middle East. After energy and aviation, remittances could be the latest worry.
bbc.com
China sets lowest economic growth target since 1991
It is also the first time the target has been lowered since it was cut to "around 5%" in 2023.
bbc.com
US trade court orders tariff refunds in setback for Trump administration
A trade court has cleared the way for businesses to receive refunds for tariffs that the Supreme Court struck down last month.
bbc.com
We have more privacy controls yet less privacy than ever
Has online privacy become "a luxury not a right" for us all in 2026?
bbc.com
Stock markets and oil prices still volatile over fears Iran war may drag on
Experts have warned that if oil and gas prices remains elevated it could make goods and services more expensive.
theguardian.com
Could the Iran war trigger a global economic crisis? – The Latest
Global oil and gas prices have skyrocketed as war halts energy exports from the Middle East. The strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage of water that facilitates the shipping of about a fifth of the world’s oil, has been in effect closed since the regional war began, prompting fears of a global economic crisis. According to reports, traffic has dropped by about 80%, but how long until we feel the effects? Nosheen Iqbal speaks to the Guardian’s head of business, John Collingridge – watch on YouTube Continue reading...
bbc.com
Are UK interest rates still expected to fall soon?
The interest rate set by the Bank of England affects mortgage, loan and savings rates for millions.
bbc.com
Wales' richest man says Britain is 'uncomfortable place' for Jews
The billionaire says "anti-semitism is always in the air" with parallels to the persecution his ancestors faced.
bbc.com
Know when to fold them: the tech inspired by origami
Origami techniques can add strength to structures without adding bulk.
bbc.com
Deepfake attack: 'Many people could have been cheated'
The boss of the Bombay Stock Exchange was recently targeted in what is a growing global problem.
bbc.co.uk
Edible Economics by Ha-Joon Chang (Omnibus)
Professor Ha-Joon Chang, “a hungry economist” explores why economics matters.
bbc.com
Why you should consider fixing your energy tariff now
Martin Lewis explains what the upcoming change to the energy price cap means for your bills.
bbc.com
Why you can't get a signal at festivals and sports matches
Connecting up music and sports events to the internet is a massive undertaking.
bbc.com
'Is this all bad debt or good debt?'
Karen has not only left the family in emotional turmoil but also in serious debt.
bbc.com
The family-owned soda firm that still uses returnable glass bottles
Soft drinks company Twig's Beverage has a loyal following for its old-fashioned approach.
bbc.com
Martin Lewis on what the new energy price cap means
Typical household energy bills will fall by 7% in April, regulator Ofgem has announced, following a shake-up in charges by the government.
cnbc.com
Register now: Applications open for the World's Top Fintech Companies 2026
CNBC and Statista chart the top fintech players from around the world, ranging from startups to Big Tech names.
bbc.com
Orbital space race heats up in Arctic north
Europe lags far behind the US and China in orbital space launches, but new facilities are opening up.
bbc.com
Are you cut out for living and working in Antarctica?
Jobs are available on the icy continent for chefs, plumbers, carpenters and even hairdressers.
bbc.com
How do you modernise mango farming?
India's mango farmers are being urged to innovate as climate change makes cultivation "unpredictable".
bbc.com
The two farms in Senegal that supply many of the UK's vegetables
During winter in Britain fresh produce is sent by cargo ship from the West African nation every week.
bbc.com
Reddit's human content wins amid the AI flood
Reddit says its human contributors are valued amid an internet awash with AI-generated content.
bbc.com
Trump eyes Venezuela visit – but obstacles to his oil plan remain
The US president wants American energy firms to start extracting the crude but they are reluctant.
bbc.com
The US economy is growing - so where are all the jobs?
As hiring rates and job openings drop, some worry a tough job market could be here to stay.
bbc.com
Get a grip: Robotics firms struggle to develop hands
Developing a durable and affordable hand is one of the biggest challenges in robotics.
bbc.com
Who is billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and how did he make his money?
The industrialist and Manchester United co-owner has apologised over comments he made about immigration.
bbc.com
The Dutch love four-day working weeks, but are they sustainable?
The Netherlands has the lowest working hours in Europe, but some say it is harming its economy.
bbc.com
Why food fraud persists, even with improving tech
Even with sophisticated technology it is still difficult to detect fake foods.
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
bbc.com
Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
Parts of Britain’s rail network will close for engineering work over the festive period - but is that the right time to do it?
bbc.com
Budget 2025: What's the best and worst that could happen for Labour?
Three days in, after a tax U-turn and partial climbdown on workers' rights, Laura Kuenssberg looks at what impact Budget week might have.
bbc.com
Has Britain's budget watchdog become too all-powerful?
Ahead of this week's Budget, some have accused the Office for Budget Responsibility of being a "straitjacket on growth"
bbc.com
The curious case of why Poundland is struggling during a cost-of-living crisis
Why - in an age where so many of us are feeling the financial pinch - are some budget shops on UK high streets having such a tough time?
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